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Mary Chenoweth
Modernist Bicycle, Semi Abstract Vintage Painting 1960s Blue Orange White Brown

circa 1965

About the Item

Vintage midcentury modern large format oil painting on canvas from the 1960s by 20th century Colorado woman artist, Mary Chenoweth. A cheerful post-modern painting with a lone bright blue colored bicycle with long gray handlebars and wheels that resemble orange slices. The bike is without a rider, suspended above a scalloped blue edge, suggesting a bumpy path. Non representational elements include a series of circles above the bicycle in colors of gray, orange, yellow and white. The background is a solid shade of medium tan brown. Mary Chenoweth's minimalist composition exemplifies the post-modernist rejection of traditional depiction, while still maintaining figurative elements. Chenoweth's abstracted bicycle recalls the most prominent art movement of the 1960s without forsaking her own personal flair. This original painting is presented in a custom white float frame. Outer dimensions measure 52 ½ x 69 x 2 inches including the frame. Canvas size is 51 ¼ x 67 ½ inches. About the Artist: Mary Chenoweth was a prolific artist who worked in a variety of media, including painting in oil, collage, pen and ink drawing, printmaking, and sculpture. Her talent earned her a place in Denver’s modernist art group, the "15 Colorado Artists," and made her an influential figure to many Colorado artists such as Dale Chisman and Emilio Lobato. She painted in vibrant colors and stylized shapes, recognized for her pure abstraction. After studying at both the Art Institute of Chicago and Pratt Institute in New York City, Chenoweth earned a BFA in 1950 from the University of Denver, where Vance Kirkland became her mentor. She furthered her education by receiving an M.F.A. in printmaking from the University if Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. After her graduation in 1953, she began teaching at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, which later became the art department at Colorado College, where Chenoweth remained until her retirement in 1983.
  • Creator:
    Mary Chenoweth (1918 - 1999, American)
  • Creation Year:
    circa 1965
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 52.5 in (133.35 cm)Width: 69 in (175.26 cm)Depth: 2.25 in (5.72 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    Painting is clean and in very good vintage condition - please contact us for a detailed condition report. Custom white float frame has been recently added. Dimensions listed include the frame.
  • Gallery Location:
    Denver, CO
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 262921stDibs: LU27310220752

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